Specialty Fabrics Review December 2020 - 4

BRIEFINGS

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

An unprecedented year,
an unprecedented Expo

I
Jill C. Lafferty, Senior Editor

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t's the day after IFAI Virtual Expo 2020 as I write this editorial-
and my feet are blister-free.
That's not to say that an in-person Expo wouldn't have been
preferable, but under the circumstances, the industry came
together in the only way possible for the conversations, networking
and education that are more essential than ever.
The virtual format of IFAI Expo stood out because of a
well-designed user interface that made it easy to navigate
between educational sessions, exhibits, networking lounges and
demonstrations. IFAI staff, education presenters and exhibitors
compiled a massive amount of content that attendees could digest at
their own pace. And by spreading Expo out over two weeks, attendees
didn't have to make as many choices between live events.
Need expert advice on the right kind of welding for your business?
How and why to set up an ESOP? A better understanding of smart
textiles? How to get shade sail design right? IFAI Expo had answers.
Unsurprisingly, one topic seemed to permeate every other
conversation-with more unknowns than expertise. Still, Expo
provided a platform for discussions about the challenges and
opportunities ahead. Amanda Schneider, founder of ThinkLab, told
attendees of a Sunbrella®-sponsored session to focus their way out of
the chaos. " People are more open minded to change than ever before, "
she said. " This is our opportunity to take all those little things that
frustrated us ... and help to create the next normal that we all want
to be a part of. "
The crisis also presents a unique moment to shape legislation to
better support U.S. textile manufacturing. In the final Expo session,
Kim Glas, president and CEO of the National Council of Textile
Organizations (NCTO), said that when the pandemic hit, the textile
industry understood that there was a call to service. " Sometimes the
textile industry is not seen as a high-tech emerging industry in the
U.S., " she said. " What a great way to change the conversation that
our industry is the leader in providing the solutions that our
government, our hospitals, our governors and everyone is needing. "
The textile industry is essential-and gathering either in person or
virtually is essential for the advancement of the industry. See you in
Nashville in 2021. Wear comfortable shoes.

PUBLISHED SINCE 1915 BY THE
INDUSTRIAL FABRICS ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL

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EDITORIAL | SpecialtyFabricsReview.com/contact
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Rebecca Post
SENIOR EDITOR Jill C. Lafferty
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Elisa Bernick
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Sammi Jones
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Janet Preus
MEDIA AND PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Michelle Cook
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Mark E. Battersby, Kony Chatterjee, Tushar K. Ghosh,
Jeff Moravec, Marie O'Mahony, Sigrid Tornquist

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IFAI MEMBERSHIP | ifai.com/membership
EDITORIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Elissa Decker, Moss Inc.; Cheryl Gomes, Innovative Textile
Solutions LLC; Clare King, Propel LLC; Jacob Matayev,
Textile Commission; Eddie Nohmura, Taiyo Kogyo Corp.;
Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar, Texas Tech University; Kathy
Schaefer, Glawe Awning and Tent Co.; Sandy Schumaker,
Roeming Industries; Jacob Schwartz, International Tension
Structures; Jeff Viehmeyer, Alameda Canvas & Coverings

Specialty Fabrics Review is the official publication
of the Industrial Fabrics Association International
and IFAI Expo 2020.

Industrial Fabrics
Association International
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4 REVIEW DECEMBER 2020

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Specialty Fabrics Review December 2020

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